I'm planning to build a server for my local gaming cafe to streamline the painful process of updating and installing games. Currently, they're doing updates one by one during shifts, which takes forever and only covers a few games. I want a solution that allows all PCs to update multiple games at once, without having to re-download everything from the internet each time.
I'm not the best with software that requires command lines, but I'm willing to learn to use Linux for this project. I'm looking for recommendations on programs that can manage these downloads on a central server and whether I should rely on the server to push updates to the PCs or let the PCs pull from the server instead.
I have a solid background in building PCs, so hardware isn't the issue, but finding clear answers for effectively using Linux or Windows Server for this multi-update task has been challenging.
I'm committed to this project since I've recently turned my life around after some tough times, and I'm eager to provide my community with a better gaming experience while also creating a little income for myself. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Honestly, it sounds like a pretty tough situation in terms of finding a budget-friendly and simple solution. If you're mostly using the Microsoft Store, setting up your own store might be pricey and still rely on downloads from Microsoft's servers. Alternatively, Citrix could be an option, but it’s costly and I’m not clear on how it would fare for gaming.
Are you using Steam for your games? If yes, consider checking out LanCache (it caches game downloads for local networks). Linus Tech Tips recently released a video on it that might help you: https://youtu.be/7Lrek5XCGaI?si=-avGBhf-4zz_aRO8. It could streamline updates significantly for Steam titles!
That sounds promising! I mainly have Steam games but also some from Epic and Blizzard. I’m unsure if LanCache would cover those too. Have you got any insights on that?
I get what you mean! It's definitely about balancing cost and practical use without losing effectiveness. Making the update process easier should be the goal to save both time and resources.